Clothes pin



Qct. 25, 1955 I 0. v. OLSON 2,721,365

CLOTHES PIN Filed NOV. 12, 1952 INVENTOR. OSCAR V. OLSON BY .9- M

Affornex United States Patent F CLOTHES PIN Oscar V. Olson, Greenhurst,N. Y.

Application November 12, 1952, Serial No. 320,010

2 Claims. (Cl. 24137) This invention relates to fasteners for securingclothing or the like to a clothes line, and has particular reference toa novel clothes pin which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture andyet has improved gripping characteristics.

In general, the clothes pin of the invention is formed from a singlesheet material blank that is shaped in such a manner that a large numberof such blanks may be cut or stamped from a single sheet material stripwith substantially no waste of material. Each blank is provided withthree prong elements which are formed so that they cooperate in engaginga clothes line and, in effect, encircle the line. This construction, aswill be explained more fully hereinafter, enables the novel clothes pindescribed herein to fasten clothing or the like to a clothes line in amore secure manner than is possible with a conventional clothes pin. Inaddition, the clothes pin of the invention is small and light weightand, at the same time, strong and durable.

With the foregoing considerations in view, it is a primary object ofthis invention to provide a novel clothes pin which is relatively easyand economical to mass produce.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a clothes pinwith improved fastening characteristics.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clothes pin whichis compact and yet can withstand a large amount of wear over a longperiod of time.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a strip of sheet'material illustrating themanner in which the blanks for the clothes pins of the invention are cuttherefrom.

Figures 2 and 3 are elevations of the back and front sides,respectively, of the clothes pin of the invention.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the clothes pin of Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the clothes pin illustrating the manner inwhich it engages a clothes line.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the clothes pin.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates astrip of sheet material such as light metal or plastic from which theclothes pin blanks 12 are cut or stamped along lines 14. It will beapparent from Figure 1 that the shape of the blanks 12 is such that theyexactly interfit with one another thereby enabling the material of strip10 to be utilized to the fullest extent and a large number of blanks tobe derived therefrom. Extending from the lower edge of each blank 12 area plurality of integral prong elements 16, 18 and 20, while projections22, 24 are integral with the upper edge of the blank. It will be seenthat the shape of the upper peripheral edge of each blank 12 isidentical to the shape of the lower peripheral edge thereof, permittingthe inter- 2,721,365 ,Piatented Oct. 25, 1.95.5

fitting of the blanks and utilization of material noted above.

Prong elements 16 and 20 are adjacent the ends of the blank '12 asshown, and are bent outwardly from the body 26 of the blank on the sameside thereof. Thus, as seen in the front elevation of Figure 3, elements16, 20 are formed into hook-life projections extending out of thedrawing sheet. Prong element 18, located between elements 16, 20, islikewise bent outwardly from the body of the blank 12 but in theopposite direction from elements 16, 20. Element 18, therefore, wouldextend into the drawing sheet in Figure 3. In addition to forming themain portions of prong elements 16, 18 and 20 outwardly, as abovedescribed, the inner edges 28 of 16, 20 are bent or turned slightlyoutwardly in a direction opposite to that in which the main portions ofthe elements are bent, and the edge 30 of prong element 18 is turnedslightly outwardly in a direction opposite to that in which its mainportion is bent. The particular conformation of the prong elementsdescribed may be best seen from Figure 5 wherein the formed clothes pinis shown gripping a clothes line 32, looking from the bottom thereof.The prong elements 16, 20 grip the line 32 on one side and the bottom,and the element 18 grips the line on the other side and bottom so thatthe body 26 and prong elements of the clothes pin, in effect, encirclethe line and prevent the clothes pin from falling or being shaken off.The turned edges 28, 30 permit the line 32 to pass through the clothespin in a nearly straight path or, in other words, prevent excessivebending of the line when clothes pins are fastened thereto.

As is best shown in Figure 4, upper projection 22 is bent outwardly fromthe body 26 of the blank 12 in the same direction as prong elements 16,20. This projection serves as a thumb grip or lever in securing theclothes pin to the line as will be explained. Projection 24 extendsvertically, as shown in Figure 4, and is not bent out of the plane ofthe blank 12. This projection is provided with a hole 34 therethroughwhich permits automatic carding of the pins during their manufacture,and also permits a large number of pins to be slipped onto a large hook(not shown) which can be positioned on the clothes line and slidtherealong so that the clothes pins will always be within easy reach ofa person hanging clothes along the full length of the line. While it isintended that the sheet material comprising the blanks 12 be of a strongand durable nature, a reinforcing rib, as indicated at 36 may, ifdesired, be formed in the body 26 of the blank to give it added strengthand resistance to deformation.

The application of the clothes pin of the invention is as follows:Clothing or the like is hung over the line in the usual manner. Theclothes pin is held with the thumb against projection 22 and is attachedby positioning the ine and a fold of clothing between prong elements 18and 20. The pin is then twisted so that the line and fold pass in frontof element 20 and behind element 18, as viewed in Figure 3. The pin isthen lifted slightly and further twisted by bearing against projection22 to position element 16 behind the line and fold so that the latterthen pass in front of elements 16, 2t) and behind element 18. In thismanner, the clothing is securely attached to the line and, since the pinitself nearly encircles the line, the clothing will so remain until thepin is detached, in spite of the pull exerted by heavy winds.

What I claim is:

l. A clothes line pin formed from a single sheet material blankcomprising a substantially rectangular body portion, first and secondprong elements integrally formed with said body portion and beingpositioned at the ends of the body respectively and extending from onelongituditudinal edge thereof, said first and second prong elementsbeing curved to embrace one side of the clothes line, a third prongelement extending from said edge of the body and being positioned inproximity to said first prong element and being spaced an appreciabledistance from said second prong element, said third prong element beingcurved to embrace the opposite side of the clothes line, and a tabextending from the opposite longitudinal edge of said body portion andbeing positioned in proximity to said second prong element.

2. A clothes line pin as defined in claim 1, wherein said tab is curvedin the direction of the curvature of said first and second prongs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

